I have been researching the same thing, but in reverse.  Citibank seems
to be the best deal around if you open an account with them.  Checkout
their web site it explains it pretty good.

Stache


John R. Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
> What do people here recommend? In the past, I've used the Japanese Post
> Office, Lloyds Bank, and some other bank (can't remember which one offhand).
>
> I haven't sent money for a while, but, as I recall it, the handling
> charges may be only the tip of the iceberg. More important - especially
> if one is sending large amounts - is the exchange rate.
>
> If I recall correctly, the post office simply used to check the exchange
> rate for that day and convert the money from yen into dollars or
> whatever at the going rate, with no percentile or commission. Is that
> still the case the case these days? I did a bit of googling, but
> couldn't seem to find the info.
>
> Lloyds, on the other hand, is currently offering an exchange rate of
> 214.46 yen to the pound sterling, whereas http://www.xe.com/ucc/ gives
> today's rate as 211.145 yen to the pound. That would add up to a
> difference of some 65 pounds sterling ($120) per million yen. Lloyds
> also charges a commission of 2000 yen per currency exchange. But then,
> this seems to be their exchange rate for cash; it isn't clear from their
> website what rate they would apply to an international transfer.
>
> Can anyone confirm which method offers the best *overall* value,
> including both handling charges and exchange rates?
> 
> John